Queensland sides to meet in U15 league final

By
Christopher Bath

HISTORY will be made at Scully Park tomorrow when two Queensland sides clash for the first time ever in the Australian U15 Championships.

HISTORY will be made at Scully Park tomorrow when two Queensland sides clash for the first time ever in the Australian U15 Championships.

Queensland White’s Zac Lomax and Daniel Fifita look for an offload from Conrad Edwards as NSWCCC’s Curtis Wilson and Josh Delailoa look to put him down. It will be an all Queensland final for the first year ever following two semi-final wins yesterday. Photo: Geoff O’Neill 250614GOE03

A field goal with 90 seconds left on the clock was all that separated NSWCHS and QLD Maroon in a re-play of last year’s final, with the same result yesterday afternoon in the semi-final.

In the other match, QLD White held on for a 14-10 victory over NSWCCC.

Queensland White coach Wayne Adams was elated his side had made only its second final with its four-point win over NSW Combined Catholic Colleges.

It was the White (Queensland seconds) side’s first ever win over a “major” NSW side.

“It was a tough game,” Adams said. “The boys completed well though. We were up around 80 per cent coming out of our own half.

“They have been coming together well. It’s the first time we’ve (Queensland seconds) beaten a major NSW team.” (Turn to Page 24 for more).

The most successful side in the history of the competition, NSWCHS, looked to be on top of the second most successful side, the Maroons, with a four-point lead in the second half.

The game started out like a 1980s State of Origin with a bit of a scuffle after a loose ball on the first tackle.

The sides were going end to end as they tested each other out in the middle, possibly even a bit much as the ball didn’t sail wide too often.

Ten minutes before half time and following a Maroon sin bin, CHS winger Mawene Hiroti put out four right fends in a row as he bounced over in the left corner.

Hiroti looked to be their most dangerous player all game and had no problem slotting the conversion from the sideline to go into the sheds up 6-nil.

A quick tap following a dubious head-high decision allowed prop Jayden Bishop to crash over and even the score.

With not much creativity in either side’s attack, the teams went end to end before both scored a try in the left corner, CHS first and then Maroon.

Utility back Travis Turnbull missed from the sideline, although made up for it 10 minutes later with a field goal from in front.

Both sides had a shot at a field goal in the final minutes before Turnbull lifted it over with ease.

The Maroons and Whites are the states Firsts and Seconds so a game where one team wants the other side’s jerseys is always competitive.

Maroons coach Dave Ackers said that it definitely puts some pressure on the top side going into the final.

“It is amazing to have both sides in the final,” Ackers said.

“White are a very handy.”

The coach thought the win highlighted the toughness of the side.

“It wasn’t clinical but we came back from being six down with one in the bin.”

Ackers picked out his front rowers and second rower Lochlyn Sheldon for best on ground.

“He (Sheldon) was the only forward that didn’t come off and was just sensational around the park.”

NSWCHS coach Brendon Reeves was more philosophical after the second loss to Maroon in two years.

“It is very unfortunate but it is all about their futures now,” Reeves said.

The two Queensland sides will clash at 1.15pm tomorrow with NSWCHS playing NSWCCC for third place at 10.45pm.

Northern Territory and Western Australia will play in the John Allen Trophy final at midday today at Jack Woolaston Oval.